The Warren County salary commission approved raises last week that will bring the county commissioners’ pay in line with other county officials including the recorder of deeds, county clerk, collector, treasurer, assessor and public administrator.
Currently, those positions all make $81,007.25. Following the Nov. 5 salary commission vote, Presiding Commissioner Joe Gildehaus’s base salary will now be raised to that level starting Jan. 1, following his recent reelection. The other commissioners will get their raises at the start of their next term. Both are up for reelection in 2028.
If the assessed valuation of all property in the county remains below $1 billion, the two associate commissioners’ salaries will be raised to $79,007.25 each, while the presiding commissioner’s salary will be $81,007.25.
If the assessed valuation of all Warren County property is determined to be between $1 billion and $2 billion, all positions making $81,007.25 currently, plus the presiding commissioner once he starts his next term, will get raises of their salaries to $84,000, while associate commissioners’ salaries will be increased to $82,000.
County officials will not know the exact assessed valuation for all property in the county for this year until the middle of 2027, but they are fairly certain it will come in higher than $900,000 and they think it could be higher than $1 billion. County Clerk Denise Stotler said the salary increase, if the assessed valuation passes $1 billion, is required by Missouri statute.
The salary commission’s motion last week to bring the county commissioners’ salaries to the same base level as other county officials, which was approved unanimously, also included a statement that the presiding commissioner would receive $2,000 more than the associate commissioners.
County officials said that rather than meaning the presiding commissioner will make more than other officials such as the clerk and collector, the presiding commissioner will make the same as these other county officials, while the associate commissioners will make $2,000 less.
The salary commission also approved authorizing a cost-of-living raise based on the Social Security Cost of Living Adjustment for county officials for 2027, 2028, 2029, and 2030 if the budget allows, and the appointment of Associate County Commissioner Matt Flake as the salary commission’s chairman.
The salary commission’s members include the county commissioners, recorder of deeds, county clerk, collector, treasurer, auditor, coroner, assessor and public administrator.
